Opinion | EastBayRI.com - News, Opinion, Things to Do in the East Bay

Letter: Fight GOP's tactics at the ballot box

Let’s take a look at the people in our country vilified by thought leaders on the far right of the Republican Party. The people they constantly vilify are Democrats, appointed and elected … more

3/1/23

Letter: A world without domestic violence is possible — if we act

To the editor: Imagine a world with no domestic violence — where no Rhode Islanders have their lives cut short by abuse, where children do not witness this violence, where our … more

12/6/21

Letter: Anti-windpower fears are completely overblown

Having spent most of my career on various industrial applications, I know a fair amount about power generation. I also live 200 feet from and frequently kayak on the Sakonnet River and, … more

3/1/23

Letter: Cartoon showed prejudice against Catholic Church

To the editor: The last acceptable citadel of fashionable public prejudice seems to have been confirmed in the Portsmouth Times’ editorial cartoon drawn by Charlie Hall this past week. The … more

9/4/23

Commentary: Saddened masterpiece ‘Superman’ building is being thrown into the dustbin

Paris is endeavoring to repair and restore Notre Dame Cathedral. We here in Providence have neglected our only Skyscraper, the most poetic and "philosophical" structure in our downtown. It saddens me … more

By Mike Fink | 2/14/20

Dr. Karissa Niehoff, chief executive officer of the National Federation of State High School Associations; and Mike Lunney, executive director of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.

Commentary: Bad behavior by coaches, parents and fans must stop

There’s an unfortunate trend continuing in Rhode Island and across the nation that must be stopped: the bad behavior of coaches, parents and fans at high school athletic … more

By Dr. Karissa Niehoff and Mike Lunney | 9/26/22

Editorial: In the public interest, it’s time to update the public records law

Setting aside journalists and citizen watchdogs, most people don’t care about public records laws — until they do care. When they find themselves in a land dispute with a neighbor, preparing a legal defense for their son’s disputed arrest, or questioning why a school district is building a new school instead of renovating an old one, they will care a lot about public records laws. more

3/1/23

Editorial: East Beach — Move the flotsam

Seasonal residents of Westport’s East Beach Road get to park their trailers on a place that common sense, Mother Nature, and rising sea levels suggest is badly suited for structures of any … more

2/5/21

Letter: Biased reporting in Seapowet aquaculture story

To the editor: Thank you for your “biased” reporting on Little Compton’s resolution objecting to Rep. Edwards House Bill H-5037 . It would seem that no one appeared to oppose … more

3/1/23

Letter: Westport man's comments were shameful NIMBY-ism

I read with much concern the article on the proposed school on Old Harbor Road. I do not know the quality of what is proposed for either education or treatment. I do know that there is a desperate … more

11/22/23

Bruce Burdett at a patio table outside his Bristol home, where he often works. The editor of The Sakonnet Times and Westport Shorelines is retiring this week after 45 years with East Bay Newspapers. “There’s something in all of us that likes to tell people stories, and this was my way to be able to do it,” he said.

Editorial: Sight unseen, his pen was most powerful

This has always been a special space in the local newspaper. Whether thoughtfully crafted after hours of research or thrown together on hectic deadline, the editorial is a revered tradition that … more

7/22/21

Editorial: ‘Tax the rich!’

When state governments need money, they often focus on familiar targets: personal sins (drinking, smoking and gambling), fossil fuels and the rich. In the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing … more

4/15/21

Op-Ed: ‘Secure Choice’ is good for Rhode Island

Nearly 200,000 working people in Rhode Island do not have access to an employer-provided retirement savings plan. This savings deficit could push the state over a costly retirement cliff resulting in … more

5/25/23

Letter: Book, bake sale was a success, thank you!

On behalf of the Union Public Library Association, I would like to thank the greater Tiverton community for their support of our annual book sale, yard sale and bake sale fundraiser held on July 16. … more

7/27/22

Letter: Little Compton, have you seen this woodcut?

The Little Compton Tree Committee (LCTC) has the following logo from a woodcut probably made in the 70s. The logo image we have is faint and old. We want to find the original woodcut – it is … more

7/27/22

Letter: Rhode Island desperately needs a bottle bill

In September, the Sogkonate Garden Club of Little Compton collected over 87 pounds of trash from our beaches in one day and over the past year, Friends of the Saugatucket in Wakefield collected over … more

12/6/23

Letter: Worried for the republic? Lighten up and get to work

To the editor: Not so long ago, being teased (bullying was always wrong) was just part of growing up. And being needled was just part of being a public figure. Teasing and needling once … more

7/27/22

Is anyone in R.I. looking at the big picture with hospitals?

STORY OF THE WEEK: Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha has championed the cause of government transparency, often saying that the state’s public records law should be a floor and not a … more

By Ian Donnis | 11/7/23

To the editor: Where’s the accountability at DOT?

So, according to the current RIDOT deputy chief engineer, the Washington Bridge failures “might” have pre-existed, but no one had noticed this until recently. It was actually an … more

2/7/24

Letter: Why is this state so far behind in vaccinations?

It is the same sensation as hearing a friend has won the lottery. It is the same sensation as being the unmarried bridesmaid sister at your sister’s wedding. I have recently been helping … more

1/29/21

Is the R.I. economy headed for a rude awakening?

STORY OF THE WEEK: If you want to feel a chill down your back, watch PBS Frontline’s report on the recent era of “easy money” – super-low interest rates … more

By Ian Donnis | 3/21/23

Letter: R.I. Congressional delegation working to protect animals

To the editor: The Humane Society Legislative Fund, a lobbying affiliate of the Humane Society of the United States, publishes its annual Humane Scorecard of Congress … more

3/4/24

Letter: Time to crack down on those who trash our beach

It’s hard to turn a blind eye to the ignorance that happens daily at Fogland Beach. If you are like me and frequently find yourself trying to enjoy a nice summer day there, it has become … more

8/9/23

Sen. Walter S. Felag: Veterans Article 16 in state budget is unacceptable

I have a real problem with Article 16 of the governor’s proposed FY 2021 state budget, which relates to the Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol. The “revenue generators” proposed … more

1/30/20

Letter: Stop offshore wind projects now

I am writing to you both in strong opposition to OffShore Wind (OSW) because I am a resident of Watertown with a house in Westport. Why am I writing now? Because a baby … more

8/9/23